The Art of Logic, Book 1 · Part 31 – Part 32
Of Opposition.
Now followeth Opposition, which is the Fighting together of two simple Terms, so as neither the one can agree with the other, nor both of them with the third, after one and the same manner. They agree not foreign, nor foreign, nor foreign, nor foreign;
The Canons of Opposition are two.
1 Opposites so far forth as they are such, are together.
2 One Opposite helps the knowledge of another in that that is an Opposite. foreign.
Opposition is either
Common. a
Special. b
Common, is contradiction, which is the first opposition ofa a thing and not a thing.
The Canons hereof are four.
1 Contradiction is of all Oppositions the first, and so the measure of all the rest: Cold and heat were not opposed, unlesse Cold were not Heat, and Heat not Cold.
2 Contradiction is of Oppositions the simplest.
3 It wants simply all mean: For between a thing and not a thing, there is no mean thing.
4 It is of all Oppositions the greatest or strongest.
Contradiction, is either
1 Exprest.
2 Implyed.
1 Exprest, when the note of denyall is plainly put to one part: As a man, and not a man.
2 Implicit, when the note of denyall being omitted, one part overthrows another: As an unbloody Sacrifice: For that which is not bloody, is not a Sacrifice: so the Catholike Romane Church; Christs every where present Body; for if it be every where, it not a body.
Speciall Opposition, is which is between special extreams; and is
Primary.b
Secondary.
Primary, whose parts are most strongly opposed.
And is either
1 Privative.
2 Disparation.
3 Repugnancy.
4 Contrariety.
1 Privative Opposition, is the fighting betwixt habit and privation▪ Habit is the presence of a thing that cleaveth to some certain and fit Subject. Privation is the absence of an habit in a Substance capable of the habit. foreign or foreign.
The Canons hereof are five.
1 A privative Opposition is neer akin to Contradictory.
2 Privative Opposition admits a Mean; as, to the eye, twilight is a Mean between light and dark; God is neither moveable, nor immoveable, Privatively.
3 Privative Oppositions have extreams of the same Genus, the Habit directly, the Privation indirectly; as sight and blindnesse.
4 Habit and Privation are about the same Subject: As, because an Animall onelyonly hath sight, therefore an Animall only is blind, not a stone, &c.
5 Privative Opposition requires determination of a certain time▪ neither can privation be given to a Subject but after the time that by its nature and fitnesse it might receive the habit; as none can be said to be bald untill the time by Nature they should have hair.
Privation is either
Naturall.
Comming otherwise.
Naturall, when that is wanting which the Subjects should Naturally have, whether it be Accident that is due to the Subject, or a part required to the constitution of the whole.
And it is again, either, First totall, or Secondly after a sort.
Totall privation, is from which there is granted no ordinary regresse to the habit.
The Canons hereof are three.
1 Totall privation is properly of dispositions, or powers onelyonly.
2 Totall privation is beside Nature
3 From privation to habit no regresse is granted: As, he that is once quite blind, can never see more, viz. ordinarily.
Privation after a sort, or in part, is when an ordinary, and easie regresse is granted from the privation to that habit. As darknesse of the night, which at morning returns to light; so sleep to awaking, sicknesse to health, &c.
Privation adventitial, or coming otherwise, is of a thing outwardly cleaving; as poverty is the privation of riches, imprisonment of liberty, &c.
2 Disparation is an opposition of specialls, arising from the division of one Generall by opposite differences; as a man and a beast are disparates, or dissevered.
The Canons hereof are three.
1 Disparates never agree to the same things as they are Disparates; So, bread is the body of Christ, cannot be spoken substantially, but onelyonly relatively, as bread hath relation to Christs body.
2. Compleat Disparates do not concur as body and soul to make a man; so God and man concur to one hypostaticall thing in Christ, but not essentiall.
3. Repugnancy is opposition either between one Disparate, and the property of another, or between two or moe properties of Disparates, and also properties of contraries, and their antecedents and consequencies: As to fein, and to be indeed a friend, to be elect, and to fall from the grace of God▪ To be bread, and to be born of the Virgin: To be prudent, and not to be able to dissemble anger; for this is Repugnant to prudency.
4 Contrariety is an opposition between two qualities that drive out one another.
And it is either
By it self.
By Accident.
Contrariety by its self is of qualites by themselves, and absolutely taken,
The Canons hereof be eight.
1. Of contrariety, each part is positive, as hot, and cold.
2. Of contraries, both are under a certain general, neer or far; As white, and black are under the general of colour.
3. Contraries are about the same subject, viz. either the generall or the speciall; But not always about the same in number, or those things which onelyonly differ in Accidents: So white and black are in the same mixt body generally taken, but not in the same body in number; As a Swan, and a Raven, &c.
4 If one of the contraries be, the other also must needs be, or at least have possibility to be: If in nature there be fire, there must also be water.
5 Contraries cannot be in the same degree that excell; But may be in degrees that are remiss: So what is hot in extremity, is not cold at all.
6. One contrary if it▪ overcomes, corrupteth another.
7 The remission of one contrary often comes to pass by the weakning of the other.
8 Contraries have contrary Causes, Effects, Properties, and next Subjects: So Vertue is of God, Vice of the Devil, Temyerance helps health, Intemperance hurts it, &c.
Contraties by themselves, are either
Mediate.
Immediate.
Mediate, which do admit a Mean, viz. of taking part with the extreams; as heat and cold admit between, lukewarmness
Immediate, which do not admit a Mean: As Vertue and Vice.
Contrariety by accident, is which agreeth unto other things for the qualities: as fire and water are contrary, because of heat and cold.
The secondary opposition is betwixt the Relation and the Correlate.
The Canons hereof be three.
1 Relative opposition is of all the weakest.
2 Opposites relatively have no Mean, viz. which takes part of the extreams, as Father and Son,
3, Opposites relatively are both affirmative.
And thus much of the simple Terms of the first part of Logick.
A Generall Sum of the first Part of Logick.
The first part of Logick is about a simple Term, and is either
The first which is either,
Of a word with the
Divisions.
Canons.
Of a thing which is either
The predicamental Row wherein is considered
The manner how things are received into the Rows.
The degree,
Direct which is
Primary
The General.
The Special.
Secondary, the singular.
Collateral, or sidelong, the difference.
The partition; for a predicament is either
Primary.
Of Substance.
Of Accidents.
Absolute.
Quantity.
Quality.
Action.
Passion.
Of Relation.
Secondary, as
When.
Where.
Situation.
Habit.
the term about the Row, which is either
Inward.
The cause
Efficient.
Matter.
Form.
End.
The caused.
The Subject and Accident.
The Whole and the Part.
Outward.
Adherent either Adjacent which is either
Connex.
Circumstance.
Adjoint.
Concomitant, which is either
Antecedent.
Consequent.
Arising of the first, and is either
Of a word, and is either
The unfolding of a word.
Conjugates.
Definition of a Name.
Distinction of the doubtfull.
Clearing of the obscure.
Of a thing, and either
Resolving, and is either
Definition.
Division.
Conferring, aud either is
Consentany, as the identity of things.
Dissentany, as
Diversity.
Distinction.
Opposition.